English Standard Version

New Living Translation

Warning Against the Adulteress

My son, keep my words
and treasure up my commandments with you;

1

Another Warning about Immoral Women

Follow my advice, my son;
always treasure my commands.

2

keep my commandments and live;
keep my teaching as the apple of your eye;

2

Obey my commands and live!
Guard my instructions as you guard your own eyes.a

3

bind them on your fingers;
write them on the tablet of your heart.

3

Tie them on your fingers as a reminder.
Write them deep within your heart.

4

Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
and call insight your intimate friend,

4

Love wisdom like a sister;
make insight a beloved member of your family.

5

to keep you from the forbiddena woman,
from the adulteressb with her smooth words.

5

Let them protect you from an affair with an immoral woman,
from listening to the flattery of a promiscuous woman.

6

For at the window of my house
I have looked out through my lattice,

6

While I was at the window of my house,
looking through the curtain,

7

and I have seen among the simple,
I have perceived among the youths,
a young man lacking sense,

7

I saw some naive young men,
and one in particular who lacked common sense.

8

passing along the street near her corner,
taking the road to her house

8

He was crossing the street near the house of an immoral woman,
strolling down the path by her house.

9

in the twilight, in the evening,
at the time of night and darkness.

9

It was at twilight, in the evening,
as deep darkness fell.

10

And behold, the woman meets him,
dressed as a prostitute, wily of heart.c

10

The woman approached him,
seductively dressed and sly of heart.

11

She is loud and wayward;
her feet do not stay at home;

11

She was the brash, rebellious type,
never content to stay at home.

12

now in the street, now in the market,
and at every corner she lies in wait.

12

She is often in the streets and markets,
soliciting at every corner.

13

She seizes him and kisses him,
and with bold face she says to him,

13

She threw her arms around him and kissed him,
and with a brazen look she said,

14

“I had to offer sacrifices,d
and today I have paid my vows;

14

“I’ve just made my peace offerings
and fulfilled my vows.

15

so now I have come out to meet you,
to seek you eagerly, and I have found you.

15

You’re the one I was looking for!
I came out to find you, and here you are!

16

I have spread my couch with coverings,
colored linens from Egyptian linen;

16

My bed is spread with beautiful blankets,
with colored sheets of Egyptian linen.

17

I have perfumed my bed with myrrh,
aloes, and cinnamon.

17

I’ve perfumed my bed
with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

18

Come, let us take our fill of love till morning;
let us delight ourselves with love.

18

Come, let’s drink our fill of love until morning.
Let’s enjoy each other’s caresses,

19

For my husband is not at home;
he has gone on a long journey;

19

for my husband is not home.
He’s away on a long trip.

20

he took a bag of money with him;
at full moon he will come home.”

20

He has taken a wallet full of money with him
and won’t return until later this month.b”

21

With much seductive speech she persuades him;
with her smooth talk she compels him.

21

So she seduced him with her pretty speech
and enticed him with her flattery.

22

All at once he follows her,
as an ox goes to the slaughter,
or as a stag is caught faste

22

He followed her at once,
like an ox going to the slaughter.
He was like a stag caught in a trap,c

23

till an arrow pierces its liver;
as a bird rushes into a snare;
he does not know that it will cost him his life.

23

awaiting the arrow that would pierce its heart.
He was like a bird flying into a snare,
little knowing it would cost him his life.

24

And now, O sons, listen to me,
and be attentive to the words of my mouth.

24

So listen to me, my sons,
and pay attention to my words.

25

Let not your heart turn aside to her ways;
do not stray into her paths,

25

Don’t let your hearts stray away toward her.
Don’t wander down her wayward path.

26

for many a victim has she laid low,
and all her slain are a mighty throng.

26

For she has been the ruin of many;
many men have been her victims.

27

Her house is the way to Sheol,
going down to the chambers of death.

27

Her house is the road to the grave.d
Her bedroom is the den of death.

Parallel

English Standard Version

New Living Translation

Proverbs 7

Proverbs 7